Spring has Sprung.......

Today on Daring Cardmakers, the theme is Spring - perfect for making on a day which is grey, rainy and overcast here in the UK. I went simple on this, the flower stamp I have had for ages, fresh yellows and greens always look springlike, and I used dies to emboss a frame - instructions below.

Be sure to pop over to Daring Cardmakers to see all the design teams efforts

 I created this embossed frame to frame my flower stamp........

I used the Sissix foldaway, but whatever machine you have, use your normal sandwich for thin dies (minus any thin die shims). Here I have base plate, cutting mat, rubber mat, card, die (cutting edge down), cutting plate

The important thing is the rubbber mat - put

your die cutting edge down onto this, you get 

a beautifully embossed outline. Try it with intricate

dies too - a good way of stretching your supplies

Following on from my musings about my hacked blog, it reminded me of a Dunkin Donuts story that I told you before, years ago, but is relevant again now. I was sitting in the Florida sunshine enjoying my iced coffee when two cops came in and asked if they could join me. When they heard my accent they asked where I was from. 'UK' I replied.

Well one guy started talking quite randomly about Russia, he knew a heck of a lot, talked about the Tsar being assassinated, red army etc etc. His partner was open mouthed with admiration about his grasp of the subject. 'Hey Brad, you sure know a lot about this stuff......'

'yeah, it's kinda a hobby of mine'..... so we chatted for a while, they got up to go and Brad said 'It's been great to meet you, never met anyone from the Ukraine before'

Well, what could I say? If I had corrected him he would have felt a real idiot in front of his buddy, so I nodded, smiled and said goodbye. But now I wonder if there is a cop in the USA who is telling everyone 'I met a woman from the Ukraine once, spoke really good English. Hope she's okay........'